Police have arrested “Hi-so Luk Nat”, a wealthy Bangkok resident who became a high-profile figure in anti-government protests in 2021, on drug charges and seized numerous weapons after a woman accused him of threatening her and forcing her to take drugs.
Tanat Thanakitamnuay, 33, was arrested at his house in the Noble Cube housing estate in Suan Luang district on Wednesday evening.
Better known as “Hi-so Luk Nat”, Mr Tanat comes from a prominent business family and once ran for a Bangkok MP seat under the Democrat Party. He then began taking part in the student-led protest movement that was seeking to oust the Prayut Chan-o-cha government.
Police said the arrest was made after a woman filed a complaint with the Children and Women Protection Sub-Division.
She told police she had been drinking with Mr Tanat at his house when he started using drugs and ordered her to join him. When she refused, he hit her face with a gun and forced her to take drugs, according to the police complaint.
She escaped from the house after Mr Tanat passed out as a result of his drug use.
On Wednesday, police searched the house and seized 21 guns, ammunition and related items.
According to the police, nearby residents said they often heard quarrelling in the house and saw women crying and running out.
Mr Tanat became well-known to the public when he lost the sight in his right eye after being struck by a tear-gas canister fired by police at a rally at Victory Monument in August 2021.
